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Open Telefonica Nissan test at Jarama
THE OPEN TELEFONICA NISSAN "FACTORY" STARTS UP AT FULL POWER: 21 DRIVERS FROM 8 COUNTRIES TESTED TODAY AT JARAMA Scheckter and Giao, the best as well in the rain. An impressive Frank Montagny shows up Racing numbers given: Spaniard Rafael ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
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THE OPEN TELEFONICA NISSAN "FACTORY" STARTS UP AT FULL POWER: 21 DRIVERS FROM 8 COUNTRIES TESTED TODAY AT JARAMA
Scheckter and Giao, the best as well in the rain.
An impressive Frank Montagny shows up
Racing numbers given: Spaniard Rafael Sarandeses takes no.1 for 2001
Madrid, March 1.- A 21-driver 23-car record has been set today in the first collective practice session at the Circuito del Jarama in Madrid, Spain. This is the season opening for the Open Nissan 2001. Despite the rain and the cold temperatures, Tomas Scheckter (Vergani Racing) has set best lap time today, ahead of Portuguese Manuel Giao (Scuderia Famá) and Frenchman Frank Montagny (Epsilon by Graff). Montagny, former F3000 driver, has lapped today really close to the top favourites for series victory in his first contact with the Coloni Nissan CN1/C.
The absolute internationalization of the most important single seater series in Europe after F1 and F3000 FIA is a fact. Today, drivers from 8 countries lined up at Jarama. The countries are: France, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, Portugal, Great Britain, Venezuela and Spain.
Tomas Scheckter has been the fastest in the morning (1.48.285), but in the afternoon it was Giao's turn he did not lap before today- (1.48.617). The battle for series victory will be real tough if Scheckter is confirmed by Jaguar (he is test driver for the British F1 team) to race in the Open Nissan. A surprising debut today by former F3000 driver Frank Montagny. The Frenchman has decided to compete in the Open Telefonica Nissan to rocket up his racing career in the same way as former champions such as Marc Gené, Fernando Alonso and Antonio Garcia did. No laps today for Italian based team Venturini Racing. The team from Parma is still to settle agreements with drivers.
Nine of 21 drivers today are "rookies" for the category. Their names: Frank Montagny, Mariano Acebal, Leandro Iglesias, Geoffrey Dellus, Borja García, Ricardo Megre, Sam Hancock, Filippo Zadotti y Milka Duno. But probably there are some others to come.
<pre> DAY RESULTS - SCRATCH (racing numbers in brackets) 1. Tomas Scheckter (4) RSA Vergani Racing 1.48.285 2. Manuel Giao (18) POR Scuderia Famá 1.48.617 3. Frank Montagny (11) FRA Epsilon by Graff 1.49.018 4. Grégoire de Galzain (12)FRA Epsilon by Graff 1.49.804 5. Andrea Belicchi (14) ITA Door¹s Engineer. 1.50.135 6. Santiago Porteiro (5) ESP Vergani Racing 1.50.165 7. Matteo Bobbi (2) ITA A. Campos Mot. 1.51.493 8. Paulo Alho (19) POR Scuderia Famá 1.51.513 9. Mariano Acebal (10) ARG GD Racing 1.52.321 10. Rafael Sarandeses (1)ESP A. Campos Mot. 1.53.016 11. Leandro Iglesias (9) ARG GD Racing 1.53.120 12. Geoffrey Dellus (26) FRA Epsilon by Graff 1.53.199 13. Borja García (3) ESP A. Campos Mot. 1.53.311 14. Philippe Benoliel (17) FRA GTEC 1.54.455 15. Ricardo Megre (21) POR Repsol Meycom 1.54.491 16. Víctor Ordóñez (20) ESP Repsol Meycom 1.56.269 17. Jordi Nogués (16) ESP GTEC 1.56.425 18. Sam Hancock (23) GBR Formax Racing 1.57.185 19. Angel Burgueño (22) ESP Repsol Meycom 1.57.369 20. Filippo Zadotti (15) ITA Door¹s Engin. 1.58.287 21. Milka Duno (6) VEN Vergani Racing 2.01.433
Second and last collective testing session at Jarama tomorrow (full day). Next one due at Valencia the 22nd and 23rd March. Open Telefonica 2001 first event: 01st April 2001 (Jarama)
RPM COMUNICACIÓN comunicacion@alesport.com
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